Contributions
582 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBroadbandAs I said a minute ago, I recently had a productive conversation with my Scottish counterpart on how the Scottish and UK Governments can work together to get the broadband into…13 Feb 2020HANSARDBroadbandAs the hon. Lady knows, the NCSC has published comprehensive guidance, which the networks are paying close attention to. The networks work closely with our agencies. We will bring…13 Feb 2020HANSARDBroadbandIt is precisely because of the needs of remote areas such as those in her constituency that we are investing £5 billion in gigabit-capable broadband. I know that, with her…13 Feb 2020HANSARDBroadbandLike my hon. Friend, I welcome the progress that has been made in his constituency, but there is more to do. I recently spoke with my Scottish counterpart, Paul Wheelhouse, and…13 Feb 2020HANSARDBroadbandI can. The value of superfast and gigabit broadband to businesses is enormous, and it will allow the businesses of the future to power this country’s economy. It is the fact that…13 Feb 2020HANSARDBroadbandAs my hon. Friend knows, through our rural gigabit connectivity programme we are already putting £200 million into some of the hardest-to-reach places, not least in west…13 Feb 2020HANSARDOnline HarmsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Baroness Morgan of Cotes, has made the following Statement: DCMS and the Home Office are today…12 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)I once again admire the hon. Lady’s ability to get national security matters into the discussion, as she herself to some extent implied, although her doing so was a lot less…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)On a point of order, Mr Davies. I will briefly do the customary thing of thanking the Bill Committee members who have had such a full and compressed day. I also thank all the…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)The clause makes an important provision in respect of the Bill’s territorial extent and commencement. As Members may be aware, telecommunications is a reserved matter in all three…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)I shall be brief. The schedule sets out related amendments to other legislation which were introduced by clause 2. It contains the amendments to section 402 of, and schedule 3A…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)None the less, the legislation cuts a tribunal process from several tens of thousands of pounds to a £500 fee, which is indisputably a significant reduction. The hon. Lady talked…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)I take the hint, Mr Davies. I will briefly address a couple of issues raised by the hon. Lady. The cost of an application by an operator will be determined by the court, but we…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)I beg to move amendment 2, in the schedule, page 9, line 17, at end insert— “(10A) In paragraph 95(1), after paragraph (a) insert— (aa) in relation to Wales, the First-tier…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)At its heart, the Bill is about making it faster and cheaper for digital infrastructure providers to seek rights to install their services in leasehold properties. The Bill is…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Davies. I welcome the hon. Lady’s acceptance that the Bill is an important part of the Government’s programme to deliver…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)There is no set deadline imposed on a private commercial organisation because individual operators are not all regulated in the same way. For instance, Openreach is regulated…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)The answer is that at the moment that is one of the problems. The Bill introduces the process by which we might look at whether the responsiveness to requests is something that…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)Yes, I am not sure how I would cope myself, but the principle is the same. We sympathise with the spirit of the amendment. There is currently little evidence that anyone seeks to…11 Feb 2020HANSARDTelecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill (First sitting)I genuinely sympathise with what the hon. Lady is seeking to do, but her amendment also constrains a Bill that benefits from taking the approach that it does. Technically what she…11 Feb 2020